While practicing for the track team, you regularly stop to consider the values of trig functions for the angle you've covered as you run around the circular track at your school. Today, however, is different. To keep things more interesting, your coach has decided to have you and your teammates run the opposite of the usual direction on the track. From your studies at school, you know that this is the equivalent of a "negative angle".

You have run −45∘ around the track, and want to fine the value of the cosine function for this angle. Is it still possible to find the values of trig functions for these new types of angles?

Trigonometric Functions of Negative Angles

Notice that this angle is coterminal with 330∘. So the ordered pair is (3√2,−12). We can use this ordered pair to find the values of any of the trig functions of −30∘. For example, cos(−30∘)=x=3√2.

In general, if a negative angle has a reference angle of 30∘, 45∘, or 60∘, or if it is a quadrantal angle, we can find its ordered pair, and so we can determine the values of any of the trig functions of the angle.

−45∘ is in the 4th quadrant, and has a reference angle of 45∘. That is, this angle is coterminal with 315∘. Therefore the ordered pair is (2√2,−2√2) and the sine value is −2√2.

2. sec(−300∘)

sec(−300∘)=2

The angle −300∘ is in the 1st quadrant and has a reference angle of 60∘. That is, this angle is coterminal with 60∘. Therefore the ordered pair is (12,3√2) and the secant value is 1x=112=2.

3. cos(−90∘)

cos(−90∘)=0

The angle −90∘ is coterminal with 270∘. Therefore the ordered pair is (0, -1) and the cosine value is 0.

We can also use our knowledge of reference angles and ordered pairs to find the values of trig functions of angles with measure greater than 360 degrees.

Examples

Example 1

Earlier, you were asked if it is still possible to find the values of trig functions for the new type of angles.

What you want to find is the value of the expression: cos(−45∘)

cos(−45∘)=2√2

−45∘ is in the 4th quadrant, and has a reference angle of 45∘. That is, this angle is coterminal with 315∘. Therefore the ordered pair is (2√2,−2√2) and the cosine value is 2√2.

Example 2

Find the value of the expression: cos−180∘

The angle −180∘ is coterminal with 180∘. Therefore the ordered pair of points is (-1, 0). The cosine is the "x" coordinate, so here it is -1.

Example 3

Find the value of the expression: sin−90∘

The angle −90∘ is coterminal with 270∘. Therefore the ordered pair of points is (0, -1). The sine is the "y" coordinte, so here it is -1.

Example 4

Find the value of the expression: tan−270∘

The angle −270∘ is coterminal with 90∘. Therefore the ordered pair of points is (0, 1). The tangent is the "y" coordinate divided by the "x" coordinate. Since the "x" coordinate is 0, the tangent is undefined.

Review

Calculate each value.

sin−120∘

cos−120∘

tan−120∘

csc−120∘

\begin{align*}\sec -120^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\cot -120^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\csc -45^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\sec -45^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\tan -45^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\cos -135^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\csc -135^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\sec -135^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\tan -210^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\sin -270^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\cot -90^\circ\end{align*}

Review (Answers)

To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 1.19.